Missing in My Life (Fourth Book in Life Series)

Chapter 3

"That was me. Reliable. The good southern guy. Boy next door. Except I wasn't. Not really." ~Kelly Moran

My dad lets me stay home from school today after my concussion. "Get some rest Sweetie. I called Luke to have him gather your schoolwork that you will be missing and he will drop it off after school today when he comes by to do his own work." Dad says, grabbing his truck keys from the table beside the front door. "I'll be home as soon as I can. Oh and your grandma is coming over at around noon to check up on you."

"Great." I say from the couch. "She's gonna fuss about me and probably think that my tumble was much worse than it actually was!" I declare.

Grandma is a worrier. A big time worrier especially when it comes to her loved ones. She is my mom's mom. She was a major songwriter before moving back here. My grandpa on the other hand doesn't worry too much. He worries just enough but never too much.

I turn on the TV to watch some random show that got recorded. I drink some fresh coffee that Dad made with breakfast and nibble on some toast and bacon that he also made. My head is throbbing in pain and I just want it to end. I take the strongest painkillers I could find in the medicine cabinet to get rid of the pain. 

At around eleven, Grandma lets herself into the house and I immediately smell the fresh chicken noodle soup in her hands. "Ashton, I made you some fresh soup." She says. "How are you feeling, Darling?" She asks, worry in her voice. 

"I could be worse." I reply. 

"Well thank the Lord that you are not worse." She says. "When I was younger, so much younger, I feel off a horse and got a concussion." She reminisces. "But everything turned out to be okay in the end. I heard that Luke Fitzgerald escorted you to the nurse's office. He is such a nice, young gentleman, ain't he?" 

"No." I reply. "He annoys me so much." 

"Well maybe he annoys you because he likes you." She says with a knowing smile. 

"Ew! No! I don't want Luke Fitzgerald to like me!" I say in disgust. 

"He is nice, he is awfully handsome, he comes from a good family, he is smart, and he is athletic. What is so bad about him, Ashton?" Grandma asks, raising her eyebrows. 

"He is annoying, he knows he is adored by pretty much everyone, and he is just...ew!" 

"Think what you want to think." Grandma says, ending the topic of conversation. "Now I am going to go warm up your soup in the kitchen and I want you to stay right here and relax. I don't want you to do anything that could cause it to worsen."  

"Well if it worsens, I might have to go to the hospital because it worsened and then the nurses and doctors at the hospital will have to give me stronger drugs and then I won't feel the pain. It sounds amazing." I say. "Will you drive me to the hospital if I 'accidentally' fall down the stairs and hit my head?" I ask Grandma. 

"Nope." Grandma replies without a second thought. 

"I feel so loved." I joke. 

"It is outta love, Ashton, that I don't let you injure yourself so you get stronger medicine for your concussion." Grandma corrects. 

"Fine." I grumble in response. 

I eat my soup on the couch and Grandma sits in the rocking chair in the corner with a notebook writing some random stuff. "Whatcha writing?" I ask in-between spoonfuls of soup. 

"Just some song lyrics." She replies nonchalantly. "Nothing major." 

"Well what are the lyrics?" I ask. 

"It's a secret." She says with a small smile. 

"It's not like I am going to tell anyone." I say. "Except the dog. I tell the dog everything." 

"They are for your mother." Grandma replies. " About when she was little." 

"What have you written?" I ask, standing up slowly and walking over to Grandma. 

Grandma hands me the little notebook and I read what she has written. 

Don't you worry..About a single thing or anything..Because everything is gonna be alright..

"It's beautiful, Grandma." I say with sincerity. "She would have loved it." 

"Yeah." She replies. "Well, I should be going, Ashton. I have to go make sure everything is set up properly at the music school for when I am gone in DC in two weeks." She says, standing up to leave. 

"Thank you for bringing me the best soup in the whole entire world." I say before she leaves. 

"You are very welcome, Ashton." Grandma replies. She gives me a quick hug before heading out the front door. 

I fall asleep on the couch while watching something random on TV. I don't wake up until Luke comes by. "Ash, wake up sleepy head." He says, shaking me gently awake. 

"Why?" I ask. "Why do I have to wake up?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe you want to see my beautiful face." Luke replies. 

"Why would I want to see your ugly ass face?" I ask, cracking an eye open. 

"Because, according to pretty much everybody out there, I have the most beautiful face in the entire world." Luke replies. 

"I think it is average." I say with a shrug. 

"Just get your ugly ass off the couch!" Luke demands. 

"I do not have an ugly ass!" I retort immediately sitting up on the couch in anger. 

"I knew that would get you up." He says with a smirk on his face. 

"Jerk." I grumble. "My ass is adorable according to Jason!" I say mainly to boost my spirits. 

Jason is a pitcher for the baseball team and is also considered one of the hottest guys in school. He is notorious for hooking up with girls and is always flirting with someone. 

"Jason thinks every ass is adorable." Luke says. "And what is so interesting about Jason Walton? Do you have a crush on him?" He asks. 

"No!" I reply. "I don't have a crush on anyone." I say. 

"Uh huh." 

"Uh huh is right. I don't have any romantic feelings for anyone." I say. "Now pass me that damn homework already and go do your job." I say, ending the conversation if it even was one. 

"Yes, Mom." Luke replies with another smirk. 

"I ain't your mother." 

"Sure sound like it though." 

"Would you like me to call your mother and tell her about your rather rude behavior towards me? I am sure she would love to hear it." 

"I'll shut up now." Luke says.